- Choose your materials carefully. Watercolor paints come in tubes or pans, and you’ll need watercolor paper, brushes, and a palette.
- Plan your composition. Decide what you want to paint and sketch it out lightly on your paper.
- Start with light washes of color. Wet the area you want to paint with clean water first, then add a small amount of paint and let it spread naturally.
- Add layers of color gradually. Let each layer dry completely before adding another to avoid muddying the colors.
- Use different techniques for different effects. Try wet-on-wet for soft blends, dry brush for texture, and lifting off color for highlights.
- Pay attention to values and contrast. Use darker colors for shadows and lighter colors for highlights to create depth in your painting.
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Watercolor is a forgiving medium that allows you to lift off mistakes or cover them up with additional layers of color.
- Practice regularly to improve your skills. Experiment with different subjects, techniques, and color combinations to find what works best for you.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed when starting a watercolor painting? Maybe you’re not sure where to begin, or you struggle with choosing the right colors. It’s completely normal to feel this way! Watercolor painting can be a beautiful form of expression, but it can also be intimidating for beginners.
Luckily, with the right techniques and mindset, anyone can start creating stunning watercolor artwork. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of how to start a watercolor painting from scratch. From gathering your materials to choosing your subject matter, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get started.
So if you’ve been wanting to try watercolor painting but don’t know where to begin, keep reading! We’re here to help simplify the process and guide you towards creating your very own masterpiece.
How to Start a Watercolor Painting – The Quick Answer:
Starting a watercolor painting requires essential materials like high-quality paints, watercolor paper, good quality brushes, and a palette. It’s important to invest in artist-grade materials and choose colors based on their opacity level for better results. When choosing the right paper, consider its texture as it affects how much water it can absorb and how the paint sits on it. Choose from hot-pressed, cold-pressed, or rough textures based on your style.
Essential Materials for Starting a Watercolor Painting
If you’re a beginner in watercolor painting, it’s essential to have the right materials to start on the right foot. Here are some of the basic materials you need:
Watercolor Paints
The first and foremost thing you require is high-quality watercolor paints. While buying watercolors, make sure that they are lightfast and have excellent staining properties. You can choose between tube and pan colors, depending on your preference.
Paper
Watercolor paper is another crucial material that you need for painting as regular paper cannot handle watercolors. You can choose from various types of papers like hot-pressed, cold-pressed, or rough texture based on your style.
Brushes
Investing in good quality brushes is important as they help in creating different textures and effects in your painting. Get different size brushes like round, flat, filbert, etc., to create versatility in your artwork.
Palette and Water Containers
A palette helps mix colors while a container holds clean water for rinsing brushes or dipping them into paint. You can either buy a traditional palette or use any smooth surface like glass or ceramic as an alternative.
Tips:
- Avoid using cheap supplies as they tend to affect the outcome of your painting.
- Buy artist-grade materials instead of student grade for better results.
- Select colors based on their opacity level to create depth in your artwork.
- Clean your brushes after every use to maintain their longevity.
Choosing the Right Paper for Your Watercolor Painting
Watercolor paper plays an essential role in how your artwork looks since it affects how much water the paper can absorb and how the paint sits on it. Here are some factors to consider while selecting the right paper for your painting.
Texture
Watercolor papers come in three textures: hot-pressed, cold-pressed, and rough. Hot-pressed is smooth, and colors dry faster as it lacks texture. Cold-pressed has a medium texture that works well with most techniques, whereas rough paper has deep indentations that give a grainy look to artwork.
Weight
The weight of paper determines how much water it can absorb without buckling or warping. Generally, watercolor papers range from 90lbs to 300lbs; however, for beginners, it’s recommended to use paper that is at least 140lbs as it gives a sturdy base for painting.
Color
Watercolor papers come in shades of white and cream. While white reflects light better and makes colors appear more vibrant, cream color adds warmth to artwork.
Tips:
- Select the right weight based on the type of artwork you’re creating.
- If you’re a beginner, start with cold-pressed papers as they work well with most techniques.
- High-quality paper tends to be more expensive but produces better results.
- Try experimenting with different textures and weights to find your preferred combination.
Basic Watercolor Techniques Every Beginner Should Know
Watercolor painting can be a fun and rewarding hobby for beginners and professionals alike. Here are some basic techniques every beginner should know:
Wet on Wet Technique
This technique involves applying wet paint onto wet paper, allowing the colors to blend and bleed into one another. To do this, wet your paper with a brush or spray bottle, then apply your paint while the paper is still damp. This technique is great for creating soft and subtle backgrounds or for blending colors seamlessly.
Dry Brush Technique
The dry brush technique involves using a dry brush to apply paint onto dry paper. This results in a more textured and grainy look, perfect for creating rough textures or highlighting details.
Splatter Technique
The splatter technique involves flicking paint onto the paper using a stiff brush or toothbrush. This adds a playful and spontaneous element to your painting, perfect for creating stars in a night sky or adding texture to foliage.
Selecting and Mixing Colors for Your Watercolor Painting
Choosing the right colors is important when it comes to watercolor painting. Here are some tips on selecting and mixing colors:
Primary Colors
The primary colors in watercolor painting are red, blue, and yellow. These colors can be mixed together to create secondary colors like green, purple, and orange.
Mixing Colors
To mix colors, start with small amounts of each color on your palette and gradually add more until you achieve your desired shade. Always test your mixture on scrap paper before applying it to your painting.
TIP:
Remember that water affects the intensity of color, so use less water when you want more intense pigments.
The Importance of Sketching Out Your Design Before Starting a Watercolor Painting
Sketching out your design before starting a watercolor painting can save you time and frustration in the long run. Here’s why:
Planning and Composition
Sketching out your design allows you to plan and experiment with different compositions before committing to a final piece. This can help you avoid mistakes and make adjustments as needed.
Color Testing
Sketching also allows you to test out colors and see how they interact with each other before applying them to your final piece. This can help you avoid muddy or dull colors.
TIP:
Use light pencil lines when sketching, so they won’t show through your final painting.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Watercolor Painting
Watercolor painting can be challenging, but avoiding these common mistakes can make the process easier:
Not Enough Water
Using too little water can cause the paint to appear dry and scratchy on the paper. Make sure to use enough water when applying paint for smooth and even coverage.
Too Much Water
On the other hand, using too much water can cause colors to bleed into one another or become washed out. Be careful not to overwater your paints.
No Dry Time
Allowing layers of paint to dry completely before adding more is crucial in watercolor painting. Not allowing enough dry time between layers can cause colors to mix together and create unwanted results.
Adding Depth and Texture to Your Watercolor Painting: Tips and Tricks
Adding depth and texture is important in creating realistic-looking watercolor paintings. Here are some tips on achieving this:
Layering Colors
Layering colors creates depth by building up multiple translucent layers of color. Start with lighter colors and work your way towards darker shades.
Salt Technique
Sprinkling salt onto wet paint creates a unique texture in your painting. The salt absorbs the water, leaving behind a pattern of small dots.
Masking Fluid
Using masking fluid to cover areas you want to keep white or protect from paint can create interesting textures and shapes in your painting.
Knowing When to Stop Working on Your Watercolor Painting
Watercolor painting requires knowing when to stop working on your piece. Here are some signs it may be time to put down the brush:
Overworking
Overworking a section can cause the paper to become saturated, making it difficult to control the paint or add more layers. If you find yourself repeatedly going over an area, it may be time to move on.
Satisfied with Results
If you’re happy with the results of your painting, there’s no need to continue working on it. Sometimes less is more in watercolor painting. Trust your instincts and know when to walk away.
TIP:
Take breaks throughout the process and come back with fresh eyes to evaluate if any additional adjustments are needed before calling it complete.
In summary, starting a watercolor painting can be a fun and rewarding experience. With the right materials, techniques, and mindset, anyone can create beautiful works of art in this medium. So grab your paintbrushes and start exploring the world of watercolor today!
Frequently Asked Questions about How to Start a Watercolor Painting
What do you paint first in watercolor?
When working with watercolors, it is crucial to begin with lighter colors before moving on to darker ones. It is important to take your time and not rush the process. Its recommended to start with the light colors because it’s difficult to undo mistakes once the darker colors have been applied.
Can I teach myself watercolor?
I practice painting daily, and although I used to feel embarrassed about being self-taught, I now believe that all artists are self-taught. To master the skills needed to confidently use watercolor, practice is essential, regardless of how many classes one takes. This realization came to me after years of painting.
When painting watercolor do you paint the background first?
The advantage of starting with a background wash when painting is that it reduces the risk of making mistakes on the main object in the foreground. For example, if you were to paint the subject, such as a red rose, and then paint the background, there is a chance that the background paint might accidentally get on the rose and spoil it.
Do you have to wet watercolor paper before painting?
If you plan to use a wet-on-wet painting technique, it is necessary to moisten the watercolor paper beforehand. However, this can cause the paper to buckle, resulting in an uneven surface that can make controlling brushstrokes difficult.
What is the golden rule of watercolor?
Don’t make decisions based on what you think others want; choose what you truly like and what pleases you.
Why is watercolor painting so difficult?
Watercolour painting is challenging because it is hard to predict how the watery pigment will flow and it is difficult to control. Additionally, the translucent nature of watercolour means that mistakes are hard to fix since they will show through the layers even after the pigment has dried.
